FAQ’s

Reservation Questions:

Do you have any availability for ______on ______ dates?

The fastest way to check is go to our: Availability Calendar. This calendar is “real time”, meaning, it is 100% accurate up to the minute. If you call or email us to check, by the time we respond, the requested dates may already be booked. Change the dates at the top of the screen to your desired dates to view all cottage availability.

For the easiest, fastest, most accurate way to check it: go to the RESERVATIONS and make your reservation directly from our website. If the calendar says it is not available (with an orange X), then it has been rented for those dates.

Do you have a waiting list I can get on, in case you get a cancellation?

Yes, by the start of the season, we are usually 90% full with all weekends sold out far in advance. Therefore, we have a wait list system to accommodate the additional demand for the resort. Please send us an email with your preferred dates/cottages and we will contact you in case of a cancellation.

Can I check in early or check out late?

Our check in time is at 3pm eastern time, our check out time is at 11am eastern time. Our cottages are cleaned between those times for the next guests, so early check-ins or late check-outs are usually not possible as we are usually fully booked in the summer.

Do you have a group discount for family reunions, larger groups?

Maybe. If your family reunion or group booking is in the off peak dates and you are renting more than 4 cottages, we will gladly work out a discount with you based on how many cottages are being rented. If your group booking is during our “peak” summer season, we cannot offer any discounts because we are usually mostly full during these times. September weekends have been a fantastic time for many of our guests to have a perfect family reunion at a discounted rate.

Resort Property Questions:

How far are you from Indiana Beach Amusement Park?

We are located 3 miles north of Indiana Beach Amusement Park on main Lake Shafer. This is about a 5 minute drive. Indiana Beach does have free parking.

Most of our guests describe our property as being the “best of both worlds”. It is only a few minutes to the amusement park, and it has all of the peace and quiet of lake living, without the all night noise, chaos, and crowds you sometimes find close to the park.

Are you located on the lake?

Yes, our property has over 600 feet of main Lake Shafer water frontage and 9 boat docks and spans both sides of West Shafer Drive. We are also lucky to have the only waterfront bar/restaurant on main Lake Shafer, a local favorite called Jake’s Beach House, located right on our property. The property map shows the layout of the total resort : PROPERTY MAP.

Do you have a beach swimming area or is there a sand beach on the lake?

Lake Shafer is lake that was created by a dam. It is not a natural spring fed sand bottom lake, therefore, there are no naturally occurring sand beaches. Indiana Beach Amusement Park does have a man made sand beach that is part of their water park attraction.

Although you may swim in the lake, most of our guests prefer to do their swimming in our 24 ft octagonal pool, and their water sports and boating in the lake.

Do I need a fishing license to fish off the docks?

Yes, you can purchase a fishing license locally.

Do you have grills, and what kind?

Yes, next to each cottage are charcoal grills. You will need to bring charcoal, lighter fluid and tin foil from home, although you may also find some in our laundry facility if another guest has left any supplies behind. View photo of the grills.

Do I need to bring ______ for our trip?

For a full list of everything, including the kitchen inventories that are included with your rental and help figuring out what to pack for your trip, just click here for a full printable detailed list. WHAT TO BRING LIST.

Do you allow dogs?

No, we are sorry but our insurance does not cover any pet related incidents, therefore we can never allow any pets on the property. We never make an exception to this rule. There are kennels in the immediate area.

Boating Questions:

What does it cost to rent one of Blue Door’s boat slips?

You may use a boat slip for free with any cottage rental. The slips are not assigned and on a first come first served basis. To date we have never had an issue with all guests having a place to park their boat at a dock. All the docks have bumpers.

Does Blue Door have a boat to rent?

YES! We have a 10 person pontoon boat that is rentable by the hour or by the day. It is parked at our boat docks, so no need to drive anywhere. Just pack a cooler and walk across the street for a fun day on the lake. More info- click here.

Where can I put my boat in the lake?

The closest launch is 1/3 mile south on West Shafer Drive, across the street from Tall Timbers Marina. It costs around $10 to launch your boat here.

Is there a place to park my boat trailer on your grounds?

Yes, Blue Door Cottages has plenty of space to help accommodate your boat trailer. We will work with you to find a good place to park it so it is out of the way of other guests.